Double-ended pressure contacting electrical terminal

ABSTRACT

An electrical terminal ( 30 ) includes first ( 34 ) and second ( 36 ) contact members having outer pressure contacting end portions ( 34   a,    36   a ) for pressure engaging first and second electrical devices, respectively, along with enlarged inner end portions ( 34   b,    36   b ). The pressure contacting end portion of one contact member is longer than the pressure contacting end portion of the other contact member. A sleeve ( 32 ) is provided with a through hole ( 44 ) for slidably receiving the inner end portions of the first and second contact members. The through hole has opposite open ends ( 44   a,    44   b ) through which the pressure contacting end portions of the contact members project. A biasing member ( 38 ) is disposed in the through hole to resiliently bias the contact members in opposite directions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectorsand, particularly, to a pressure-contacting electrical terminal forelectrically coupling a pair of electrical devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known in the art, pressure contacting electrical terminals areused to form a conductive circuit between two electrical devices bypressure engagement therebetween, such as establishing a connectionbetween a mobile phone and an antenna. During assembly, one end of theterminal first is pressure engaged with a first electrical device, andan opposite end of the terminal then is pressure engaged with the secondelectrical device, thereby establishing an electrical connection betweenthe two electrical devices.

For instance, FIG. 1 shows a prior art electrical terminal, generallydesignated 10, of the character described above. The terminal includes asleeve or housing 12 having an inner conductive liner 14 forming athrough hole 16 through the housing. The through hole has opposite openends 18. A pair of contact members 20 have outer pressure contacting endportions 20 a and enlarged inner end portions 20 b. The inner endportions are reciprocally mounted within through hole 16, while outerend portions 20 a project through openings 18 and outwardly of thehousing. A coil spring 22 is disposed within through hole 16 and hasopposite ends in engagement with the enlarged inner end portions 20 b ofcontact members 20 to bias the contact members in opposite directions.It can be seen that the outer pressure contacting end portions 28 a ofcontact members 20 have identical lengths, as indicated by double-headedarrows 24. In other words, the outer end portions of the contact membersproject from opposite ends of housing 12 the same distances.

It has been found that in some applications, the restricted or narrowdistance between the two electrical devices which are to be electricallyconnected by terminal 10 makes it difficult to assemble terminal 10between the electrical devices, because of the equal distances whichcontact members 20 project from opposite ends of housing 12. In otherwords, the total distance between the distal ends of outer end portions20 a of the contact members is excessive in comparison to the distancebetween the two, spaced electrical devices, and this makes it difficultto assemble the terminal between the devices. The present invention isdirected to solving these problems and providing improvements inpressure-contacting electrical terminals of the character described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical terminal of the character described.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electrical terminalincludes first and second contact members having an outer pressurecontacting end portions for pressure engaging first and secondelectrical devices, respectively, along with enlarged inner endportions. The pressure contacting end portion of one contact member islonger than the pressure contacting end portion of the other contactmember. A sleeve is provided with a through hole for slidably receivingthe inner end portions of the first and second contact members. Thethrough hole has opposite open ends through which the pressurecontacting end portions of the contact members project. A biasing memberis disposed in the through hole to resiliently bias the contact membersin opposite directions.

As disclosed herein, the outer pressure contacting end portions of thecontact members have rounded convex contact surfaces for engaging theelectrical devices. The biasing member comprises a coil spring havingopposite ends engageable with the enlarged inner end portions of thecontact members.

The sleeve includes an inner tube surrounded by an outer tube. Theenlarged inner end portions of the contact members are reciprocallyslidably mounted in opposite ends of the inner tube which, preferably,is fabricated of conductive material.

Restricted stop means are provided at the open ends of the through holefor abutting the enlarged inner ends of the contact members to defineouter limit positions of the pressure contacting end portions of thecontact members. The restricted stop means at one open end of the sleeveis formed by an inwardly turned flange of the outer tube. The restrictedstop means at the opposite end of the sleeve is formed by an inwardlyturned flange of the inner tube.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify likeelements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal or axial section through an electrical terminalaccording to the prior art and as described in the Background, above;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical terminalaccording to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the terminal of FIG. 1 in assembledcondition;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal or axial section through the terminal of thefirst embodiment; and

FIGS. 5-7 are views similar to that of FIGS. 2-4, but of a secondembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 2-4, anelectrical terminal, generally designated 30, is shown according to afirst embodiment of the invention. Generally, the terminal includes asleeve 32, a first contact member 34, a second contact member 36 and acoil spring 38 within the sleeve and compressed to resiliently bias thecontact members in opposite directions. According to the invention andas described hereinafter, it can be seen that second contact member 36is longer than first contact member 34. The two contact members arefabricated of conductive material such as metal.

More particularly, first contact member 34 of terminal 30 includes anouter pressure contacting end portion 34 a for pressure engaging a firstelectrical device. The first contact member includes an enlarged innerend portion 34 b. The distal end of outer end portion 34 a is domeshaped to present a rounded convex contacting surface 34 c for pressureengaging the first electrical device.

Second contact member 36 of terminal 32 includes an outer pressurecontacting end portion 36 a for pressure engaging a second electricaldevice. The second contact member includes an enlarged inner end portion36 b. The distal end of outer end portion 36 a is dome shaped to presenta rounded convex contacting surface 36 c for pressure engaging thesecond electrical device.

Sleeve 32 of terminal 30 includes an inner tube 40 surrounded by anouter tube 42. The outer tube may be fabricated of dielectrical materialsuch as plastic, while the inner tube is fabricated of metal material. Athrough hole 44 extends longitudinally or axially through the sleevewithin inner tube 40. The through hole has a first open end 44 a throughwhich outer end portion 34 a of first contact member 34 projects. Thesleeve has a second open end 44 b through which outer end portion 36 aof second contact member 36 projects.

Generally, restricted stop means are provided at the open ends ofthrough hole 44 for abutting the enlarged inner end portions 34 b and 36b of the contact members to define outer limit positions of the pressurecontacting end portions 34 a and 36 a of the contact members.Specifically, a restricted stop is formed by an inwardly turned flange46 at one end of outer tube 42 of sleeve 32 and against which inner endportion 34 b of first contact member 34 abuts under the biasing of coilspring 38. A restricted stop is formed by an inwardly turned flange 48at one end of inner tube 40 of sleeve 32 and against which the enlargedinner end portion 36 b of second contact member 36 abuts under thebiasing of coil spring 38.

As best seen in FIG. 2, both the inner tube 40 and the outer tube 42 ofsleeve 32 are circular in cross-section. The outer tube has acylindrical outer wall 50 of a given diameter and includes an outer wallsection 52 of a reduced diameter. Outer wall 50 includes a pair ofpositioning notches 54 in opposite sides thereof for positioning theterminal in an electrical device.

As seen best in FIG. 4, the invention contemplates that first and secondcontact members 34 and 36, respectively, have outer pressure contactingend portions 34 a and 36 a, respectively, of different lengths. Thisenables the terminal to be positioned between a pair of electricaldevices which have a restricted spacing therebetween.

More particularly, it can be seen in FIG. 4 that outer end portion 34 aof first contact member 34 has a given length so that it projects agiven distance from a first end 56 of sleeve 32. This given distance isindicated by double-headed arrow “A”. On the other hand, it can be seenthat outer end portion 36 a of second contact member 36 is significantlylonger than the outer end portion of the first contact member.Therefore, the outer end portion of the second contact member projectsfrom a second end 58 of sleeve 32 a longer distance as indicated bydouble-headed arrow “B”.

The advantages of providing contact members 34 and 36 with differentlengths is that terminal 30 can be positioned in pressure engagementwith an electrical device by engaging second contact member 36 with theelectrical device and pushing the second contact member into sleeve 32in the direction of arrow “C” (FIG. 4) a significant distance because ofthe longer length of outer end portion 36 a of the second contactmember. The outer end portion 34 a of first contact member 34 then canbe positioned in pressure engagement with the other of two electricaldevices having limited spacing, because the outer end portion of thefirst contact member projects from sleeve 32 a minimal distance “A”.Yet, the overall length of terminal 30 is not changed. In other words,the “operative” or compressed length of terminal 30 is reduced with agiven length for sleeve 32 to accommodate more narrowly spacedelectrical devices. If the length of first contact member 34 was thesame length “B” as second contact member 36, this would not be possible.

FIGS. 5-7 show a second embodiment of the invention which differs fromthe first embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 in the cross-sectional shape of theouter tube of sleeve 32. Therefore, like reference numerals have beenapplied in FIGS. 5-7 corresponding to like components described above inrelation to the first embodiment of FIGS. 2-4. In addition, thedescription of those like components have not been repeated.

More particularly, it can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 that inner tube 40 ofsleeve 32 is cylindrical as in the first embodiment. However, outer tube42A is rectangular in cross-section to define a generally rectangularouter wall 50A. The outer wall is of uniform cross-sectional dimensionsalong the entire length of the outer tube. Again, positioning notches 54are formed at opposite sides of the outer tube.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof The present examples and embodiments, therefore,are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein.

1. An electrical terminal, comprising: a first contact member having anouter pressure contacting end portion for pressure engaging a firstelectrical device and an enlarged inner end portion, the pressurecontacting end portion having a given length; a second contact memberhaving an outer pressure contacting end portion for pressure engaging asecond electrical device and an enlarged inner end portion, the pressurecontacting end portion having a length greater than a length of thepressure contacting end portion of the first contact member; a sleeveincluding an inner tube, fabricated of a conductive material, surroundedby an outer tube, fabricated of a dielectric material, with the enlargedinner end portions of the contact members being reciprocally slidablymounted in opposite ends of the inner tube, a through hole for slidablyreceiving the inner end portions of the first and second contactmembers, said through hole having first and second open ends, restrictedstop means for each contact member for abutting the enlarged inner endsof the contact members to define outer limit positions of the pressurecontacting end portions of the contact members; a biasing member in thethrough hole of the housing to resiliently bias the contact members inopposite directions; and said pressure contacting end portions beingdefined as those parts of the contact members which project beyondopposite ends of the sleeve when the enlarged inner end portions abutthe restricted stop means.
 2. The electrical terminal of claim 1 whereinsaid biasing member comprises a coil spring having opposite endsengageable with the enlarged inner end portions of the contact members.3. The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein one of said restrictedstop means is positioned at one open end of the sleeve and is formed byan inwardly turned flange of the inner tube.
 4. The electrical terminalof claim 1 wherein the outer pressure contacting end portion of saidfirst contact member has a rounded convex contact surface for engagingthe first electrical device.
 5. The electrical terminal of claim 1wherein the outer pressure contacting end portion of said second contactmember has a rounded convex contact surface for engaging the secondelectrical device.
 6. The electrical terminal of claim 5 wherein theouter pressure contacting end portion of said first contact member has arounded convex contact surface for engaging the first electrical device.7. An electrical terminal, comprising: a first contact member having anouter pressure contacting end portion for pressure engaging a firstelectrical device and an enlarged inner end portion, the pressurecontacting end portion having a given length; a second contact memberhaving an outer pressure contacting end portion for pressure engaging asecond electrical device and an enlarged inner end portion, the pressurecontacting end portion having a length greater than a length of thepressure contacting end portion of the first contact member; a sleeveincluding an inner tube, fabricated of a conductive material, surroundedby an outer tube, fabricated of a dielectric material, with the enlargedinner end portions of the contact members being reciprocally slidablymounted in opposite ends of the inner tube, a through hole for slidablyreceiving the inner end portions of the first and second contactmembers, said through hole having first and second open ends, restrictedstop means at the open ends of the through hole for abutting theenlarged inner ends of the contact members to define outer limitpositions of the pressure contacting end portions of the contactmembers; a biasing member in the through hole of the housing toresiliently bias the contact members in opposite directions; and saidpressure contacting end portions being defined as those parts of thecontact members which project beyond the open ends when the enlargedinner end portions abut the restricted stop means; wherein saidrestricted stop means at one open end of the sleeve is formed by aninwardly turned flange of the outer tube.
 8. An electrical terminal,comprising: a first contact member having an outer pressure contactingend portion for pressure engaging a first electrical device and anenlarged inner end portion, the pressure contacting end portion having agiven length; a second contact member having an outer pressurecontacting end portion for pressure engaging a second electrical deviceand an enlarged inner end portion, the pressure contacting end portionhaving a length greater than a length of the pressure contacting endportion of the first contact member; a sleeve including an inner tube,fabricated of a conductive material, surrounded by an outer tube,fabricated of a dielectric material, with the enlarged inner endportions of the contact members being reciprocally slidably mounted inopposite ends of the inner tube, a through hole for slidably receivingthe inner end portions of the first and second contact members, saidthrough hole having first and second open ends, restricted stop means atthe open ends of the through hole for abutting the enlarged inner endsof the contact members to define outer limit positions of the pressurecontacting end portions of the contact members; a biasing member in thethrough hole of the housing to resiliently bias the contact members inopposite directions; and said pressure contacting end portions beingdefined as those parts of the contact members which project beyond theopen ends when the enlarged inner end portions abut the restricted stopmeans; wherein said restricted stop means at one open end of the sleeveis formed by an inwardly turned flange of the inner tube and saidrestricted stop means at the opposite open end of the sleeve is formedby an inwardly turned flange of the outer tube.
 9. An electricalterminal, comprising: a first contact member having an outer pressurecontacting end portion for pressure engaging a first electrical deviceand an enlarged inner end portion, the pressure contacting end portionhaving a given length; a second contact member having an outer pressurecontacting end portion for pressure engaging a second electrical deviceand an enlarged inner end portion, the pressure contacting end portionhaving a length greater than a length of the pressure contacting endportion of the first contact member; a sleeve including an inner tube,fabricated of a conductive material, surrounded by an outer tube,fabricated of a dielectric material, with the enlarged inner endportions of the contact members being reciprocally slidably mounted inopposite ends of the inner tube, a through hole for slidably receivingthe inner end portions of the first and second contact members, saidthrough hole having first and second open ends, restricted stop means atthe open ends of the through hole for abutting the enlarged inner endsof the contact members to define outer limit positions of the pressurecontacting end portions of the contact members; a biasing member in thethrough hole of the housing to resiliently bias the contact members inopposite directions; and said pressure contacting end portions beingdefined as those parts of the contact members which project beyond theopen ends when the enlarged inner end portions abut the restricted stopmeans; wherein said restricted stop means at one open end of the sleeveis formed by an inwardly turned flange of the inner tube; saidrestricted stop means at the opposite open end of the sleeve is formedby an inwardly turned flange of the outer tube and one end of the innertube abuts against the inwardly turned flange of the outer tube.
 10. Anelectrical terminal, comprising: a first contact member having an outerpressure contacting end portion for pressure engaging a first electricaldevice and an enlarged inner end portion, the pressure contacting endportion having a given length; a second contact member having an outerpressure contacting end portion for pressure engaging a secondelectrical device and an enlarged inner end portion, the pressurecontacting end portion having a length greater than a length of thepressure contacting end portion of the first contact member; a sleeveincluding an inner tube fabricated of conductive material and an outertube fabricated of dielectric material, a through hole in the inner tubefor slidably receiving the inner end portions of the first and secondcontact members at opposite ends of the inner tube, said through holehaving first and second open ends through which the pressure contactingend portions of the first and second contact members project, arestricted stop at the open end of the through hole formed by aninwardly turned flange of the outer tube for abutting the enlarged innerend of one of the contact members to define an outer limit positions ofthe pressure contacting end portion of the one contact member, and arestricted stop at the opposite open end of the through hole formed byan inwardly turned flange of the inner tube for abutting the enlargedinner end portion of the other contact member to define an outer limitposition of the pressure contacting end portion of the other contactmember; and a coil spring in the through hole and having opposite endsengageable with the enlarged inner end portions of the contact membersto resiliently bias the contact members in opposite directions.
 11. Theelectrical terminal of claim 10 wherein one end of the inner tube abutsagainst the inwardly turned flange of the outer tube.
 12. The electricalterminal of claim 10 wherein the outer pressure contacting end portionof said first contact member has a rounded convex contact surface forengaging the first electrical device.
 13. The electrical terminal ofclaim 10 wherein the outer pressure contacting end portion of saidsecond contact member has a rounded convex contact surface for engagingthe second electrical device.
 14. The electrical terminal of claim 13wherein the outer pressure contacting end portion of said first contactmember has a rounded convex contact surface for engaging the firstelectrical device.